Editorial Process

The following list provides an overview of the key stages of our editorial process:

1. Authors submit their draft protocol/review for editing.

2. The Editorial Base team complete an initial internal check of the document. This will include checking for plagiarism in accordance with the Cochrane plagiarism policy.

3. Where necessary, feedback is provided and authors are asked to submit a revised draft by a set deadline.

4. The submitted draft is accepted for external editing, and authors are sent conflict of interest forms to complete. Note that failure to submit these forms on time will delay the publication of your protocol/review.

5. The draft is submitted for external peer review. 

6. Peer review comments are collated by the Editorial Base team, and where necessary, sent to authors to complete the requested amendments.

7. Authors submit the revised document.

8. The draft is sent to a Content Editor for editing and sign-off. If amendments are requested, feedback is sent to authors to action.

9. Authors submit the revised document.

10. Editorial Base complete a pre-copy edit check of the submitted draft.

11. The draft is sent to the Cochrane copy-edit team. If amendments are requested, feedback is sent to authors to action.

12. Final amendments are completed by the authors and Editorial Base.

13. The draft is submitted for publication, and authors are asked to complete permission for publication forms. Note that failure to submit these forms on time will delay the publication of your protocol/review.

14. The final version of the protocol/review is published on the Cochrane library.

Please note that the publication schedule for protocols and reviews is dependent on all authors submitting their conflict of interest and permission for publication forms on time. The Editorial Base team will endeavour to complete this process within 12 weeks of initial submission, subject to  timely submission by authors and Content Editors.